Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is defined by excessive fat accumulation in hepatocytes without significant alcohol intake and is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. NAFLD is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease and it is considered a global public health problem. NAFLD includes pure steatosis and steatohepatitis; the last been characterized by the presence of inflammation and hepatocytes ballooning with or without fibrosis and with potential to evolve to more severe forms as cirrhosis and hepatocelular carcinoma. Current studies diverge on the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of NAFLD. The objective was to assess if there is an association between vitamin D serum levels, cytokines related to inflammation (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-?) and presence of metabolic syndrome components and the prevalence and severity of NAFLD. Methods Cross-sectional study of 40 obese (BMI > 30kg/m²) female patients above 18 years who underwent hepatic biopsy during bariatric surgery to diagnose NAFLD and assess the degree of liver damage. Clinical data, anthropometric parameters and body fat were collected. In addition, clinical parameters of metabolic syndrome were evaluated and biochemical data relating to liver injury beyond 25(OH)D and serum cytokines. A control group with 37 healthy non obese females, mean age 41 was used as a controls for serum vitamin D. Results Among 40 NAFLD patients 25 had pure steatosis and 15 steatohepatitis. Prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency was 70%. No difference was observed in vitamin D levels comparing healthy control group and NAFLD or comparing steatosis and steatohepatitis. No relationship was observed between vitamin D or cytokine levels with histopathology parameters of liver injury. Higher levels of vitamin D were associated with cellular ballooning .Vitamin D levels negatively correlated with BMI. Serum cytokine levels were not associated with the severity of NAFLD. The NAS score and the ballooning degree were higher in patients with metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Despite high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency, serum vitamin D and cytokines were not associated with the presence or severity of NAFLD in obese female patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Ballooning was the only histological parameter of liver damage associated with higher serum levels of vitamin D. Metabolic syndrome was associated with parameters of higher severity of NAFLD.

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